Moderators Guide

Sticking / Unsticking threads

Open the topic, scroll down to the bottom right of the thread, and choose move/copy thread. Choose unstick/stick repeat the same to unstick the thread.

Admin Options:
-- Thread Options -- Open / Close Thread Move / Copy Thread Edit Thread Delete Thread / Posts Merge Threads Split Thread Stick / Unstick Thread

Moving Topics

Moving a topic is the process of taking the topic, including all messages in the thread, from one forum and putting it into another. Once moved, it will no longer show up in the original forum unless you selected to leave a shadow topic. Be aware that if you are a moderator for only one forum and you move it to someone else's forum where you don't have moderator privileges, you won't be able to move it back.

How to move a topic:

Open the topic, scroll down to the bottom right of the thread, and choose move/copy thread. You want to move WITHOUT redirecting Link.

Admin Options:
-- Thread Options -- Open / Close Thread Move / Copy Thread Edit Thread Delete Thread / Posts Merge Threads Split Thread Stick / Unstick Thread

When to move a topic?

Mo ve "off-topic"/"off-forum charter" posts to the appropriate forum. It's probably a good idea to pm (private message) the original poster to let them know why and where you moved their post.
Anything that might be slanderous, libelous, etc. to another user, another website, or this website move these into the Archives forum.
Any other posts that you think need reviewing by other moderators before we act on it.

Locking and Unlocking Topics

Locking a topic ensures that no-one can respond to that topic unless a moderator first unlocks it.

How to lock a topic:

Open the topic and click the lock button, found at the bottom right of the page. Scroll down and choose close/open topic.

Admin Options:
-- Thread Options -- Open / Close Thread Move / Copy Thread Edit Thread Delete Thread / Posts Merge Threads Split Thread Stick / Unstick Thread

How to unlock a topic:

Open the topic and click the lock button, found at the bottom right of the page. Scroll down and choose close/open topic.

Admin Options:
-- Thread Options -- Open / Close Thread Move / Copy Thread Edit Thread Delete Thread / Posts Merge Threads Split Thread Stick / Unstick Thread

When to lock a topic:

When a post that has become a flame war. It may be best to discuss it with the other moderators in the Moderators hidden forum.

Editing Post

It should be a rare exception when a user's post needs editing.

How to edit a post :

Open the topic which contains the post you wish to edit. Scroll to the post, and click the edit button.

Please pm or email the poster and explain why you've edited the post. With a simple violation of the terms of service, it might be easier to comment in the post itself, and you can use that as an opportunity to follow up in the topic. Standard editing format should be at the bottom of the message, as follows in VBB Code, for example:

Edited by janemoderator

These brief and friendly messages go a long way to help inform everyone what constitutes acceptable posting behavior here. It's really important to be as nice as possible in a non-condescending way as if the poster really didn't know it was unacceptable (which will mostly be the case).

One of the worst things you can do is to edit a post and then try to cover up or ignore the edit. Always be up front with any edits, and if you don't feel comfortable about doing the edit, feel free to ask me or one of the other moderators to edit the post instead.

When to edit a post :

URLs in the signature.
Links to adult/obscene websites. (even mailto's)
Attacking members or flaming
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Moderating Forum Guidelines:

Bumping Topics

Bumping a post is about finding unanswered posts and kicking them up to the top of the list in your forum. As a new user, having your post go unanswered on a bulletin board can be very discouraging. This process is designed to bring a user's post back to the top of the list in the forums so that regular readers will see the post again and may then answer the poster's question.

To find suitable candidates for bumping, go to the bulletin board index page, and click on the link "View unanswered posts".

How to bump a post:

Option 1

Try to answer the user's message in a way that is useful. This is the best way of helping out and welcoming new members.

Option 2

If you don't know the answer to the user's question, simply reply to the topic with a comment such as "Anyone got an answer to this yet?".

The Team

System Owner:	Marilyn Herring
System Administrators:	Marilyn Herring
Moderators:	Click On "Forum Leaders" to view current staff

Lines of Authority

We're all volunteers here (thanks for your efforts!) but I feel it's important to define roles and responsibilities so that everyone is clear on expectations and system operation.

As this bulletin board involves many different people there will be cases where there are conflicts. This is why defined positions and roles are described here - to resolve issues and take things forward. My overriding concerns are to guide the site forwards from the point of view of what is best for the website and community over the long term.

The System Owner has final authority on all issues. The System Owner may not always blindly agree with System Administrators or moderators on issues with users. Of course moderators will be backed up where there is an issue with a "problem user", but there could always be a case where the users are correct and the moderator is wrong. Where this happens please don't take it personally and instead treat it as a learning experience.

Issues between moderators should be worked out entirely between moderators where possible. If no solution is forthcoming, the System Owner will have the final say. It's hard to imagine this being necessary, though.

Issues between moderators will be resolved by the moderator that is in charge of the particular forum involved.

Other points:

Sometimes the System Owner will get things wrong. Should this happen, please put forward a logical argument supporting your points of view, and the System Owner will then make a decision based on that.

Always try to keep matters dispassionate and logically argued, preferably quoting supporting evidence where appropriate. This is normally the best way to resolve conflicts of this nature.

System Administrators

System administrators are there to monitor and run the technical aspects of the board, although they also automatically have moderation privileges on all forums, and would normally also take on Moderator duties.

Requirements for becoming a system administrator:

Sufficient technical knowledge.
Appointed by the System Owner.
Must be in good standing with the user base.
Must have been a moderator for at least six months.

Duties include but are not limited to:

Board configuration.
Forum pruning - deletion of old topics.
User profile edits - such as for unacceptable avatars or URLs in the signature files.

Moderators

Moderators are in charge of one or more forums.

Requirements for becoming a moderator: (all present moderators are excluded from the below )

Appointed by the System Owner after discussion with other moderators.
Express an interest in becoming a moderator.
Expertise in the forum is a plus, but not required.
Someone who accesses the system four or more times a week.

Duties include but are not limited to:

Moderation of the forum for which he/she is responsible. That involves moving and editing some posts where appropriate. See Move and Edit guidelines in this document.
Regular checks of the moderators forum to read on and provide input to the direction of the bulletin board.
Express an interest in the position.
A person with a bubbly and outgoing personality.
Must enjoy meeting people from all walks of life and have plenty of tolerance for people with opposing view points.
Will need to step carefully, use PC language, and have awareness of others' cultures.
Preferably someone who can smile and laugh their way out of any predicament.
Someone who accesses the system four or more times a week.
Appointed by the System Owner after discussion with other moderators.
Posting the first welcome to new members when a new low post count member is spotted. This should preferably be combined with a useful reply to the new member, but a straight welcome is also acceptable.
Checking the board twice a week for unanswered posts, and trying to post a usable and appropriate response. See "bumping" posts in this document.
Calming the waters, for example when a post is approaching flame levels.
Must be willing to read and contribute regularly.
A greater than average posts contributor on the bulletin board.

Roles

A moderator plays a crucial role in any discussion. The ideal profile of a moderator is a person with expertise on the issue that is subject of discussion, and with the talent of digesting a diversity of views into a consistent summary. A moderator needs to have a certain authority among the group of participants and needs to know the key people involved.

Joint action

It is possible to split the tasks of moderation among a small group of moderators, sharing the workload and creating a pool of people actively involved and with expertise on moderation. It is recommended that divisions of tasks are clarified beforehand and that all participants are informed.

The concrete roles of a moderator are as follows:

To stimulate the discussion by putting proposals and specific questions forward, and provide regular and timely summaries of the discussion. Summaries may be provided weekly depending on the level of the flow of messages.

To structure the discussion . discussion needs a very clear structure and aim, in particular because no face to face communication is possible. The moderator has an important role in explaining this structure and aim to the participants and keeping the discussion focused.

To motivate people to post a message. Most people are reluctant to participate actively in an discussion and prefer to be passive readers. A moderator needs to be convincing them to post a message. Experiences show that once a discussion got started, less energy is needed to get people active.

MODERATOR HANDBOOK

Moderator's Guide Lines

Discussion Rules

Forum Etiquette

CrimeShots © care about victims. Oftentimes, after a murder is committed, the killer is arrested and all the attention suddenly focuses solely on him/her. The victim is soon forgotten. Most of us know the names of many notorious killers, however, it is quite likely that we could name only a very few of their victims. To forget them is heartbreaking, especially for their families.

--May We ALL Remember the Victims ALWAYS--

and

--May They All Rest In Peace, FOREVER--

It's the action, not the fruit of the action,
that's important. You have to do the right thing.
It may not be in your power, may not be in your time,
that there'll be any fruit.
But that doesn't mean you stop doing the right thing.
You may never know what results come from you action.
But if you do nothing, there will be no result.
~Gandhi